Why do Norwegians spend hours in nature, even in winter, and manage to have fun? "Friluftsliv” is the Norwegian culture of spending quality time in nature to restore peace and connection. In the winter of 2016, Live Danielsen of the Norwegian Environment Agency Statens Naturoppsyn and Scott Davidson of Deep Nature Guides, in close collaboration with the Bjørnebekk immigration office and the local community in Ås, Norway, offered three days of Welcome to Friluftsliv to refugees from Syria, Iraq, Eritrea and Uganda. Most had recently fled war-torn homes and walked across Europe to find refuge. This project was specifically designed to:

Wholeheartedly welcome people into this new community

Cultivate trust in community

Introduce the local ecology and safely make fire together

Deepen personal connection to nature

Cook over a fire and share a meal

Hold a safe space for everyone to share their knowledge and personal stories

This humbling and inspired work was a great success and has great potential. Most of the immigrants had been traumatized by war and felt deeply lonely and disoriented while applying for political asylum. We believe the most effective way to integrate new people includes warmly welcoming them while restoring their sense of peace by deepening connections to themselves, each other and nature. Norwegian friluftsliv has much to offer the restoration of peace in communities both in Norway and around this world in transition. Here are some of their responses:

“I’ve been here for four months. This is the first day in Norway I feel happy.”

“My tribe use to make fire like this and share stores and knowledge around the fire.”

“I love nature because it is pure, it’s a creation of God.”

“We used to go as a family to the forests and the sea to share food. But we had to leave because of the war… These trees (in Norway) and what we’re doing here remind me home.”

This work is growing me up to be more present with people crossing thresholds (there are plenty more crossings to come) and inviting them to take specific steps to belonging wherever they land. I wonder, what can I offer to help welcome people trying to land closer to my own home in California? What part of myself resists this impulse to wholeheartedly welcome, perhaps feeling too threatened to let others in? My heart knows better. Now more than ever is the time to trust, find common ground and practice deeply listening to each other. If not now, when?

Please consider calling your local immigration office and simply asking, "How can I help welcome new people into this community?" Also, look around in your own neighborhood with an open curious heart to ask, "Who here do I tend to include in my community? Who would I like to get to know?" An invitation for tea or a walk goes a long way.